Thursday, March 24, 2016

The Home Inspection

Buyers typically hire a home inspector to determine the condition of the home's most important features and uncover any potential safety and maintenance concerns. Home inspectors are licensed by the state or professional associations.The inspection is mostly visual. Inspectors will focus on the overall condition of the house as well as several electrical, roof, foundation, plumbing and HVAC systems. The inspector generates a report with photos detailing his or her findings and makes recommendations for future maintenance.Depending on the terms of the contract, the buyer may ask the seller to fix some items, negotiate a lower selling price, ask for a seller credit or even terminate the contract. As the party who funds the inspection, the buyer should understand what to expect and actively engage in the process.

Attend the inspection. Come prepared to ask questions about the home and maintenance. Take notes to know when to schedule maintenance.

You can ask your agent for recommendations for a reliable home inspector or interview your own inspectors.

Do not be shy about asking questions. It is far more informative to have the inspector explain the condition of the property while onsite than simply reading the inspector's notes in a report after the fact.

Do not wait until after closing to investigate issues that may require major repairs. If the inspection revealed a problem that could potentially be expensive to fix, seek out a few quotes prior to closing.